eri-news issue 4

8/13/2019 Eri-News Issue 4

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Vol 1. Issue 4, 15 February 2014

Contact Addresses:

Tel: +251-116620052

Fax:+251-116620011

Email:[email protected]

P.o.Box: 5527

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Eritrea: Land of

Can-Do People!

(Yikealo! kikewn eyukemey zeykewn!)

National Service: A tool

for Economic

Development, National

Cohesion and the

Defence of Sovereignty

President Isaias Afwerkis Interview With

Local Media

ERINEWS

In an interview with local media

conducted on 9 February 2014 in the

Port City of Massawa, President Isaias

gave extensive briefings on national

development programmes, and the

current situation in Eritrea and the

Horn of Africa Region.

Some highlights from the interview:

On Food security

President Isaias Afwerki said that

Eritreas food security program is guided

and measured by the amount of basic

food items in reserve

and stock. In this con-

nection, he pointed outthat adequate reserve of

basic food items for

2014 is secured, and

irrigation projects and

farming activities are

being expanded and intensified on a lar-

ger scale.

On Housing Construction

The President elucidated that a compre-

hensive national residential housing

program that benefits the general public

has been designed and is ready for imple-

mentation. He underscored that the pri-

mary beneficiaries of the housing projects

will be those selfless citizens who have

dedicated and are dedicating their time

and energy for the development and

protection of the nation. To this end,

construction companies have been

consolidated and necessary machinery

purchased. Moreover, pilot residentialhousing projects have already been

launched in the environs of Asmara.

On Infrastructure Projects

President Isaias said that apart from

extensive construction of asphalt and

gravel roads that will be implemented this

year in the different Regions, new electric

power supply projects will be built in

various parts of the country. Allinfrastructure projects are designed on the

basis of sustainability, connectivity

regional integration and complementarity.

In this respect, he cited the cross-border

electricity and road connectivity projects

that are implemented and are being under-

taken between Eritrea and Sudan.

On the Situation in

South Sudan

Identifying corruptionand lack of adequate

governmental struc-

tures as the main

causes of the current

problem in South

Sudan, President Isaias called on all inter-

nal and external parties to refrain from

portraying the ongoing conflict as ethnic

based. He called on all local, regional and

international stakeholders to express and

strengthen their support to the legitimateand internationally recognized central

Government of South Sudan. The Presi-

dent underlined that additional bloodshed

and humanitarian disaster must be

avoided.

In addition, President Isaias gave detailed

briefings regarding the expansion of basic

services such as health, restructuring of

regional administrative organs, strength-

ening the role of the Peoples Front forDemocracy and Justice, and ensuring the

participation of the people in all political

and development activities of the country.

Inside this issue:

Foreign Minis-

ter Delivers

President

Isaias Message

to President

Yoweri

Museveni

2

Eastern Africa

Region Held a

Farewell

Reception for

Ambassador

Girma Asmerom

2

Turkey and

Eritrea Sign

Bilateral Civil

Aviation

Agreement

2

Eritrean Athletes

Win Three Races

in Spain2

Ancient Temple

and Artifacts

Uncovered in

Adulis

3

Eritreas

National Report

Under UPR

Adopted

3

Bi-Weekly Newsletter

Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to AU

and UNECA

Press Section

15 February 2014

Volume 1, Issue 4


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On 11 February 2014, Representa-

tives of the Governments of Turkey

and Eritrea signed bilateral CivilAviation Agreement in Asmara.H.E. Firat Sunel, Turkish Ambassa-dor to Eritrea indicated that theAgreement will pave the way forTurkish Airlines to start scheduledflights to and from Asmara.

Page 2Volume 1, Issue 3

Eritrean Athletes Win

Three Races in Spain

World Half Marathon record holder

Eritrean Zersenay Tadesse and hisfellow countryman, AmanuelMesel, won first and second placesat the Grand Prix de Caceres CrossCountry held in Spain on 09February 2014.

A week before that, on 2nd

February , Kidane Tadesse(Zersenays younger brother) wonthe 55thMarathon Competition heldin Madrid, Spain reaching the finishline ahead of last year's winner Jos

and Alvaro Lozano.

Another Eritrean athlete, SamuelTsegai stood first in the 10,000meters race that took place on the2nd of February in Valladolid,Spain.

Eastern Africa Region Held a Farewell Reception for

Ambassador Girma Asmerom

On 11th February 2014, Ambassadorsand Diplomats of the Eastern AfricaRegion based in Addis Ababa organ-

ized a farewell reception in honor ofAmbassador Girma Asmerom, Per-manent Representative of Eritrea to

the African Union and UNECA.

On the occasion, H.E. Mr. Mull S.Katende Ambassador of Uganda andDean of the Eastern Africa Regionand H.E. Prof. Joseph Nsengimana,Ambassador of Rwanda and DeputyDean presented a token gift toAmbassador Girma on behalf of the

Region.

Moreover, H.E. Mr. Hamadi Mei-mou, Ambassador of Mauritania and

the Chairperson of the PermanentRepresentatives Committee (PRC) ofAU, H.E Dr. Andrew Mtetwa,Ambassador of Zimbabwe and Deanof the Southern Africa Region; H.E.Mr. Andrew G. Bangali, Ambassador

of Sierra Leone and Deputy Dean ofthe Western Africa Region alsograced the farewell reception with

their presence .

Amb. Girma meeting with H.E. Erastus Mwencha

On the 4

th

and 10

th

of February 2014,Ambassador Girma met with H.E. Mr.

Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairper-son of the African Union Commissionand Dr. Carlos Lopes, ExecutiveSecretary of UNECA, respectively,and thanked them for the cooperationthey showed him and the Eritrean Per-manent Mission to the AU and ECA.

Having completed his tour of duty asPermanent Representative of Eritrea

to the African Union and UNECA,Ambassador Girma Asmerom leftAddis Ababa on 14 February 2014.He will soon assume his new post asthe Permanent Representative of

Eritrea to the United Nations in NewYork.

Foreign Minister Osman Saleh delivered, on 12February, President Isaias Afwerkis message to

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The Presidents

message mainly focused on bilateral and regional issues.

Upon receiving the message, President YoweriMuseveni lauded President Isaias commitment to

enhance the existing relations between the two

countries as well as for the promotion of peace and

Foreign Minister Delivers President Isaias Message to

President Yoweri Museveni

Turkey and Eritrea Sign

Bilateral Civil Aviation

Agreement


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The Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to the

United Nations and other International Organizations

in Geneva has the pleasure to announce that the UPR

National Report of Eritrea has been adopted on 6

February 2014 during the 18th Session of the UPR

Working Group.

The Permanent Mission thanks the Presidency of the

Council, all the delegates and the Troika for theirconstructive participation in the extensive interaction

process that followed in the sequel of Eritrea's

presentation of the report. The proceedings have

once again underscored Eritrea's commitment to the

UPR as the most viable process for dialogue,

engagement and cooperation on fundamental human

rights issues. On this occasion, Eritrea reiterates its

commitment to further strengthen this process.

In essence, the interaction has amplified that many

of the recommendations are along the country's

efforts that aim at furthering the advancement of

human rights. The wider appreciation of Eritrea's

achievements and constructive recommendations

from numerous delegates are clear attestations of the

GOE's dedication to promote basic human rights and

fundamental freedoms.

There were also unbalanced stances from the usual

countries which unfortunately opted to completely

ignore efforts made, achievements gained as well asthe challenges faced. This approach is not consistent

with the UPR mechanism that stresses constructive

and objective dialogue.

Naturally, challenges remain in some areas. This is

the case with other countries as well as with other

dimensions of the domestic nation building process.

On this occasion, Eritrea reaffirms again its

commitment to further its efforts in the protection

and promotion of human rights in tandem with its

vigorous pursuit of the noble cause of nation build-

ing. In this context, it is important to recognize that

Eritrea's unequivocal call to the Human RightsCouncil to terminate and rescind country-specific

resolutions on Eritrea and instead focus on

strengthening engagement, dialogue and institu-

tional linkage within the UPR framework as both

timely and legitimate.

The proceedings have also highlighted the chal-

lenges and deleterious consequences of continued

occupation of sovereign Eritrean territories by

Ethiopia as well as the unjust and illegal UN

sanctions on the full enjoyment of human rights.

These challenges are part and parcel of the reality

that the country is facing. In this context, Eritrea

once again reiterates the sanctity of the UN Human

Rights Council principle that underlines the

interconnectedness of peace and security, human

rights and development. This poses a challenge on

the responsibility of the Human Rights Council to

play its pivotal role in the respect of the right of the

Eritrean people.

07 February 2014

PRESS RELEASE

Permanent Mission of the State of Eritrea to the

United Nations in Geneva

Eritreas National Report Under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)Adopted

Page 3Volume 1, Issue 3

Ancient Temple and Artifacts Uncovered in Adulis

Archaeological excavation in the ancient Port City of Adulis, situated

in the Northern Red Sea region of Eritrea about 45 kms south of

Massawa, uncovered a 5th

century AD Byzantine Temple as well asgold, bronze coins and other ancient artifacts.

For centuries Adulis served as a gateway of trade to the Eritrean

hinterland and the Horn of Africa Region.

eri-news issue 4

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